Mane Thompson & The Racing Pulses Drop “Rewrite The Past,” A Country Rock Gut Punch You Won’t See Coming

Most eighth graders are worried about homework, acne, or whether their crush noticed them. Mane Thompson is out here delivering a country rock performance with the emotional weight of someone who has lived through three chapters of heartbreak. “Rewrite The Past” proves he is not dabbling in music. He is throwing himself into it with a maturity that feels almost unreal.

From the jump, Thompson’s voice lands like gravel dipped in honey. It is rough in the right places, warm when it needs to be, and confident in a way that makes you double take his age. He does not sidestep the pain in the lyrics. He charges straight into it. There is a growl in his delivery that feels earned, not imitated, and it gives the regret-filled storyline a surprising level of believability. His performance does not feel like a kid acting out heartbreak. It feels like an artist channeling something deeper.

The Racing Pulses back him with production that has no interest in sitting politely behind the vocals. The bassline is rubbery and full of swagger. The guitars punch with classic rock impulse. The drum crashes land like emotional warnings. Together, they build a sound that belongs on open highways, faded boardwalks, summer fairs, and every place people go when they need to think about the choices they cannot undo. It is country storytelling fused with indie garage grit, and the combination hits harder than expected.

The live performance pushes everything into overdrive. Filmed at the Mead Witter Foundation Concert Hall, the video captures real chemistry between Thompson and the band. No awkwardness. No hesitation. Just pure energy. Thompson takes command of the stage like he was born there, feeding off the crowd and locking in with a confidence that should not be possible for someone his age.

Culturally, this track lands at a time when country music needs more genre bending and more young voices refusing to stay in preset lanes. The collaboration feels real, not engineered. Thompson shows potential that is impossible to ignore. And the replay value is ridiculous. It is catchy, cathartic, and built for looping on long drives.

When you performed “Rewrite The Past” live, what part of the story hit you the hardest in real time?

When I listen to the song “Rewrite The Past,” whether I'm performing it or just listening… What hit me the hardest in real time would be: “If I could rewrite the Past, I would listen to you like a songbird.”

That reason being… I hear it, I feel it; it can change during different times. Different people have different ways of listening to a “songbird,” & that can help them. For me, I don’t actually listen to a songbird, but I wish I could go back in time and fix some mistakes. For example, if I could rewrite the past.. I’d go back and sing the song that my Aunt Juanita requested before she died.

Your vocals have a grit that feels way beyond your age. What mindset helps you tap into that intensity when recording?

My music taste is very different for my age! That’s what makes me a good singer. Growing up, I was REALLY inspired by Michael Jackson - From his dances, his walk, the way he talked, his style, his vocal changes, and everything! I wanted to be Michael Jackson when I was younger. I grew up listening to Michael Jackson, Chris Stapleton, Brooks & Dunn, The Temptations, Al Green (with my Dad), Alan Jackson (with my Mom), etc. If you combine all of those inspirations into one. My music taste varies, I love great lyrics like J. Cole or Alan Jackson’s powerful storytelling, it’s what makes me!

Working with The Racing Pulses is a cross-generational creative leap. What surprised you most about blending your worlds?

I don’t think I was surprised by the age gap or anything about our different worlds! I was always told I had an “Old Soul” and an older look. So, for me, the goal was to make a song that everybody could relate to. Every song I love to listen to has meaning; I wouldn’t want to listen to a song with no message. Rewrite the Past has a powerful message that people can relate to. I could relate; The Racing Pulses could relate; my parents could relate; and others could relate.  

In the live video, there is a moment you fully lock in. What changed in your head or heart right then?

A lot of times, it takes me a minute to realize what I’m doing. I’m chasing a dream of mine, I’m doing what I LOVE to do, so I enjoy myself. After a couple of minutes of me singing, I realize what it took to get here, what led me to sing this song with The Racing Pulses, the feelings I broke, the mistakes I made, and all the obstacles I faced to get to this moment. I get reminded of my purpose. I believe my purpose is to sing, but what am I doing it for besides “purpose”?Then I realize all of those things that helped build Mane Thompson.

Country and garage rock have totally different textures. What detail in the arrangement convinced you that this fusion actually worked?

I personally think a good song is a good song for one. I think as long as you can make something catchy, lyrically good, and something that can almost please everybody, you’ll be fine. Those are some of the reasons my band, The Racing Pulse, did so great together. We both had similar goals but different backgrounds, and it worked.

I think a Classical music and Punk Rock artist could collaborate on a song. They have 2 completely different sounds, but both have dedicated fan bases. We saw a project where all different artists came together for one song - “We Are The World” written by Michael Jackson. That was so many artists from different genres in one.